you know, i think that obama obviously wants the marginal rates increased. he's really kind of drawing a line in the sand on that. a few republicans tom cole is the most notable one but a couple more today, i noticed came out and said they think their party should consider that. if we get a drip, drip, drip on that, a few a day a few a week, then maybe maybe there will be a chance by the end of december that enough republicans will go for that increase. remember, it doesn't have to be a huge number of republicans. it just has to be 25 or so of them. >> eliot: the president has drawn a couple lines in the sand. one of them is marginal rates go up. another one now appears to be the debt ceiling. he's putting himself into a position where he's going to have to tow a tough line or disappoint the very people you said earlier he's making feel very good because of the toughness and the new vigor in his negotiating position. fun game to watch michael. we'll ask you to come back in the next couple of days to tell us who is winning and losing. >> great. always a pleas